So I stripped all the extras off the bike and went for a ride to see if I could tell the difference between a naked convertible and one fully accessorized with shield, bags, sissy bar and passenger pillion.
The handling and ride were noticably different for me. It was like the bike was easier to handle in almost every way. So I measured all the components and came up with 47 lbs in extra weight. While I am not surprised by this, I was surprised by how much certain components weighed. For instance, the sissy bar weights 8lbs! That is a lot of mass just to keep someone from falling off the back. I am all for good 'ole American steel, but this extra weight affects handling, acceleration, MPGs and most important (to me) braking.
This also explains why a Fat Boy can weight 725 lbs and the Convertible is 788 lbs. Much of it has to do with extra chrome, ABS and other crap, but the extras is where it hurts the most.
So what is the point? Not sure, other than I am now aware of the weight penalty those extra parts come with. For example, how much does a simple detachable shield weigh if I don't need the Garmin mount and speakers and while I like the sissy bar to put a helmet on, the weight does not justify its use. Or, If I do not need the bags, perhaps I could install a rack and just bungee my work bag to it for a fraction of the weight of the bags with a lot less wind drag.
I know its not a sports bike, but I can now see why a Switchback would be a compelling option for some who like the flexibility of a convertible design but not the weight.